Crampton’s Market will be supporting 15 to 20 newcomer families in Winnipeg through a 15-week food box program.

The program will run for 15 weeks during the summer and will provide newcomer families with a variety of locally grown fresh produce. While the food box program has already been running for five years, this is the first year where all of the proceeds will be put back into the community to help newcomers to Winnipeg.

“I just kind of had a moment where I thought, ‘There’s just way too many negative things going on. What is something that I actually, functionally, can do to help bring a positive thing into all of this?’” said Erin Crampton, owner of Crampton’s market.

Since the newcomers may not all be familiar with the produce that is grown in Manitoba, Cramptons will also be providing a link to a website where the receivers of the boxes can verify what each type of produce is, along with recipes to show how they can be used.

The goal of the program reaches far beyond feeding hungry stomachs, though. Crampton is hoping to create a welcoming community for the refugees, with hopes of a potluck with donors and newcomers. “Food is love,” Crampton said. “I just really believe that we’ll be giving everybody not only a nutritional boost but an emotional boost in the transition.”

Crampton said that even if this is not a program that lines up with your passions, that doesn’t matter. There are lots of other ways to shine hope in the world. “Gosh, smile at your neighbour. Help somebody out.”

If you are interested in Crampton’s food box program, visit cramptonsmarket.com to either purchase a food box or make a donation.